San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon is reportedly nearing a five-year deal to return to the WNBA as the Las Vegas Aces head coach. She will be replacing Bill Laimbeer, who led the Aces to a 77-45, two semifinals appearances, and one WNBA Finals appearance.
San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon is finalizing a five-year deal with the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces that’ll make her the league’s highest paid coach, sources tell ESPN. Hammon plans to finish season with San Antonio.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 31, 2021
She interviewed for several head-coaching jobs in the NBA, including for the Portland Trail Blazers, where she made it as a finalist but didn’t receive an offer for a head job. She plans on finishing the season with the Spurs.
The deal will make Hammon the highest-paid coach in the WNBA. Her credentials include being a six-time All-Star, three-time All-WNBA selection, and was the assists leader in 2007. As a coach, she led the Spurs Summer League team in 2015 and has been a part of the Spurs coaching staff since 2014.
Hammon is returning to the W for the first time since retiring in 2014 after playing 16 seasons with the New York Liberty and San Antonio Stars. The Aces were initially the Utah Starzz when the league launched in 1997. Then the franchise moved to San Antonio in 2003 and finally to Las Vegas in 2018. The Aces retired Hammon’s jersey this past season by retiring her jersey
